All posts by n8rngtd.top

The ex-Spurs str had a truly stunning season with Bayern Munich and could not be in a better position to lead his country to glory in Germany

Cast an eye over the list of winners of the European Golden Shoe award and you will come across some of the greatest strikers in football's history, from legends of the past whose mere mention will bring your grandfather to tears, to the modern greats.

The award, given to the highest scorer in European league football each season, was first won by Portugal and Benfica hero Eusebio, while the third edition was won by the legendary German striker Gerd Muller, whose shot was so lethal he was was known as 'the nation's Bomber'.

Thierry Henry, Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez have won the prestigious award twice, Cristiano Ronaldo lifted it four times, while Lionel Messi has a record six gongs. But the latest winner is a player who has long been knocking on the door of greatness and has finally been let in: Harry Kane.

Kane did not just win the award, he left his rivals in the dust, scoring a sensational 36 goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, eight more than his closest rival Serhou Guirrassy and nine more in league football than Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. His timing could not have been better as he heads to the European Championship as the continent's top scorer and, by extension, will be the best striker at the tournament.

Yet there is still one thing that continues to haunt Kane: his failure to win a single trophy in his career. And it is a subject that will be discussed throughout the tournament and long after unless he can fire England to glory in Germany.

• Getty
  

  Breaking records for fun

  Kane had long been lauded in England for his heroics with Tottenham, but never quite got the same acclaim in Europe. But that has changed dramatically since moving to Bayern. Despite the challenge of moving away from the club he had been at for his entire life and moving abroad, facing cultural and language barriers, he has exceeded all expectations, sending all sorts of records tumbling.

  The striker scored on his Bundesliga debut, having set up a goal within his first four minutes on the pitch. After bagging a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Bochum in September, he had scored seven goals in his first five games and made the best start to a season in Bayern's history, surpassing Miroslav Klose, Mario Mandzukic and the legendary Muller. After 10 games, he had 15 Bundesliga goals, toppling the previous record held by Klaus Matischak which had stood for 60 years.

  After 11 matches, Kane had scored more goals than the previous season's top scorers in the Bundesliga, Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Fullkrug. And after bagging back-to-back hat-tricks against Darmstadt and Borussia Dortmund plus a brace against Stuttgart, he became the fastest player ever to reach 20 Bundesliga goals in a season, toppling another 60-year record, this one held by Uwe Seeler.

  Kane bettered Erling Haaland by scoring 30 goals after 25 games, with the Norwegian needing 32 games to get to that milestone when he was at Borussia Dortmund. He finished with the fourth-highest goal tally in a season in Bundesliga history, only falling short of Muller's totals of 38 and 40 in 1969-70 and 1970-71, respectively, as well as Robert Lewandowski's record of 41 goals in the 2020-21 season.

  If it was any consolation, he at least holds the record for the greatest debut season in the league's history. And there is always next season.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  League of his own

  Kane will be battling other modern greats for the Golden Boot at Euro 2024, but he can comfortably claim to be the best striker at the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo is playing his 11th major tournament and has warmed up for it by scoring 35 goals for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, but his tally has to be caveated by the fact the league is ranked by as the 27th best in the world. The Bundesliga, by comparison, is second. Ronaldo is also nine years older than Kane, and whilst he would never admit it, he is well past the peak of his powers.

  Mbappe is his closest challenger and pound-for-pound a better footballer than Kane, but is mostly considered a wide forward rather than a centre-forward like the Englishman. And Kane contributed to more goals than the Frenchman both in the league and Champions League.

  Kane's like-for-like rivals at the tournament all had poor seasons compared to his remarkable campaign. Romelu Lukaku scored 13 times in Serie A, Alvaro Morata got 15 goals in La Liga, Fullkrug got 12 in the Bundesliga while Rasmus Hojlund finished with 10 Premier League goals.

  Aleksandar Mitrovic, who Kane will come up against in England's opener against Serbia, has had a prolific season, firing Al-Hilal to the Saudi Pro League title with 28 goals, but, as with Ronaldo, that tally is far less impressive than Kane's.

• Getty
  

  Missed opportunities

  But one thing Kane failed to do, in keeping with the theme of his career, was win a trophy. And while his lack of silverware could have been forgiven at Tottenham, it is most damning that he could not win anything at Bayern.

  The Bavarians had not failed to win a trophy since 2012, when Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund were in their pomp and swept to the double. They had won 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles since then, as well as five DFB-Pokals and two Champions Leagues.

  The fact Bayern could not win one competition after signing the England captain led to predictable talk that they had been struck by the Kane curse. As with most social media discussions, it has mostly been said with tongues firmly planted in cheeks. Dimitar Berbatov put it best when he said: "Harry Kane curse? F*ck off, that sounds stupid and it’s disrespectful! Football can be f*cking cruel."

  But jokes aside, the fate that befell Kane and Bayern this season was remarkable. He completed his £82 million ($104m) move from Spurs and signed his contract with Bayern on the same day they faced RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup, a competition the club had won six out of the previous seven occasions. But from the bench, Kane watched his side go 2-0 down, conceding a third goal minutes after he had come on to make his debut.

  More strange happenings occurred when Bayern played Saarbrucken in the DFB-Pokal. Kane was part of the squad that travelled to the third-division outfit as Thomas Tuchel heavily rotated his team and saw his side throw away the lead and lose to a stoppage-time goal.

  Bayern's 11-year grip on the Bundesliga, meanwhile, came to an emphatic end as Bayer Leverkusen stormed to their first-ever title while remaining unbeaten, hammering the Bavarians 3-0 in February to move five points clear. Xabi Alonso's side finished with a sensational 90 points, 18 more than Bayern, who ended up finishing third – behind Stuttgart – for the first time since 2012.

  The biggest disappointment, though, was the way Bayern exited the Champions League in the semi-finals, taking a 1-0 lead in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu and holding on to it until the 88th minute, when Real Madrid's voodoo in the competition set in and substitute Joselu stepped up to win the tie with two goals in four minutes.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• getty
  

  Not to blame

  But the idea that Kane was responsible for Bayern's failings is absurd. He was helpless to stop that disaster against Madrid as he had been taken off by Tuchel while his side were 1-0 up, while he played just 27 minutes against Leipzig in the Super Cup and didn't get on the pitch against Saarbrucken.

  Nor could he be blamed for Bayern surrendering the title. With 36 goals and eight assists, he certainly held up his part of the bargain. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich underperformed in the Bundesliga, while the usually reliable Manuel Neuer was at fault in the Champions League, with a suspect offside call also playing a role in their exit. There is also a sense that Bayern were never the right fit for Tuchel.

  Kane's inability to win a trophy was also used against him when he was at Tottenham, although he undoubtedly left the club in a far better place than when he broke through from their academy in the 2013-14 season. Kane had been the talisman in Spurs' greatest era since the 1980s, having left a much bigger mark on the club than their previous trophy wins, the League Cups of 1999 and 2008.

  He was the main reason they qualified for the Champions League five times, reaching the final in 2019. He departed as Spurs' all-time top scorer after helping make them one of the most popular teams in the world.

Newcastle United's 3-1 win over Aston Villa saw them end a frustrating month on a high, but that doesn't take away from their failure to welcome a single reinforcement for Eddie Howe, whilst also struggling to offload players so far. With under 48 hours left, the Magpies could now end January with a near identical squad to the one they started with.

Newcastle transfer news

It was always going to be a difficult month for those at St James' Park, who have been walking a fine line when it comes to Financial Fair Play. Whilst investment into the women's team, academy and charity foundation doesn't count towards the final figure, meaning that Newcastle are within the guidelines, a loss of £155m over the space of the last three seasons is hardly reason to celebrate as the Premier League begins to crack down on clubs over profit and sustainability.

Newcastle's CEO Darren Eales admitted that the Magpies may need to sell players before spending big again, saying via The Athletic: "The reality is that when you look at FFP, if you take a step back and look at PSR, there’s ways you can create that headroom. Player churn, it’s counterintuitive, but it’s the nature of the beat that it creates headroom.”

That potential need for sell has seen the likes of Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron all linked with moves away this month, albeit without any deals involving those stars reaching confirmation. What's more, according to Gokmen Ozcan, a deal for Jamaal Lascelles to join Besiktas has now fallen through after the Turkish club reacted negatively to PIF's asking price.

Ozcan posted on X, translated from Turkish: "The book of Jamaal Lascelles in Beşiktaş is closed. The English defender could not receive his transfer fee from Newcastle United. The Premier League team asked for 3 million Euros. Beşiktaş responded negatively."

It now looks as though the Newcastle defender is set to stay put this month, with such little time remaining in the transfer window.

Keeping "unbelievable" Lascelles will prove wise

Whilst Lascelles isn't exactly the number one name on Howe's teamsheet when everyone is fit, he has proven to be a vital squad player amid Newcastle's injury crisis this season. And given that there are just under 48 hours left in the transfer window, it's unlikely that the Magpies would be able to find a replacement with the same experience before the window slams shut.

It's clear that Howe is a fan of Lascelles too, saying via The Daily Mail back in July of last year: "He's been an unbelievable captain for us. Captaincy doesn't just exist on the pitch, it has to exist off the pitch. The two things are so intrinsically linked. A lot of our success last year wasn't just down to the team, it came down to a group of players giving everything on and off the pitch.

"There was a group off the pitch that were absolutely magnificent, and Jamaal was one of them. He will want to play but it's how you react that is the key. We move forward together."

Gio Reyna could be key this summer as the midfielder looks to put the 2022 World Cup behind him

In any normal scenario, there wouldn't be a reason to expect much from Gio Reyna this summer. He's heading into the upcoming Copa America in brutal form, having just endured a nightmare of a club season. His confidence is no doubt shaken a bit. It has to be, right?

This isn't a normal scenario, though, and Reyna is far from a normal player. In fact, he's an extremely unique one, which is why he remains such a talking point in the lead-up to the U.S. men's national team's Copa America run.

Heading into this summer, the USMNT have high hopes for the Copa. It's a vital test, particularly on the road to the 2026 World Cup. For years, this team has been building up the ability to go toe-to-toe with the world's elite, and now's the time to prove they can. Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia are all in their pathway, and on U.S. soil. It's time to prove just how far this team has come.

For years, the U.S. has been a good team; now, they want to be a great one. The pieces are there to do just that. Gregg Berhalter has more talent at his disposal than ever before with players featuring for some of the world's biggest clubs.

But the line between good and great is very fine. In the battleground that is international soccer, it can often come down to one player, one difference-maker. And, heading into this summer, Reyna is that player, the one that could be the one to elevate the USMNT from a talented team to a scary one.

• Getty Images
  

  Rebuilding after 2022 fallout

  We all know the story by now. The 2022 World Cup did not go as planned and, for much of the year-and-a-half since, Reyna and U.S. Soccer have been picking up the pieces.

  Reyna's bridge to Berhalter turned out not to be burned, after a very public fallout – and thankfully for all involved. Reyna is back in the team, Berhalter is back as coach and everything is generally tracking well. Publicly, both Reyna and Berhalter have said that the past is in the past.

  “We both used this time productively, to start to rebuild, to repair the relationship where we gain trust with each other again," Berhalter said last month. "It did take time, but the relationship is in a much better spot.”

  With that out of the way, Reyna has been able to focus on the soccer, and the USMNT has been a vital comfort place for a player that has needed it in a big way.

Advertisement

• USA Today
  

  Leaving club form at his club

  Reyna's club situation has been absolutely dire. He played minimal minutes at Borussia Dortmund. He played even fewer at Nottingham Forest. It was essentially a wasted year for the 21-year-old midfielder, one that never got close to going to plan.

  It hasn't slowed him down with the USMNT, though. In fact, it seems to have motivated him.

  After earning Man of the Match in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final, Reyna exploded in October, scoring his first international brace in a 4-0 win over Ghana. Then, in the 2024 Nations League semis, he provided two massive assists against Jamaica before scoring another against Mexico in the finale, earning Player of the Tournament honors.

  His performances in the Nations League, in particular, have been a perfect example of what Reyna brings to a team: the ability to change games with just one kick of the ball.

• Getty
  

  A game-changer

  Level at one apiece in extra time against Jamaica, the USMNT needed a spark. It turned out to be Reyna, and it turned out he had more than one spark in him.

  The midfielder's two assists to Haji Wright were breathtakingly perfect, the type of passes only the most creative players can make. It takes skill to not just play the balls he did, but to see them in the first place. There are few players out there with the ability, vision and confidence to make those passes happen.

  That's what Reyna brings to the team. For all of his issues on the club level and for all of the nonsense that went on off the field, Reyna is arguably this team's best at simply making things happen. The USMNT has dynamic players all over the field, but there is no one better than Reyna at connecting them and, ultimately, putting them in a place to do what they do best.

  Reyna is the most likely to spring Tim Weah with a line-breaking pass down the right-hand side. He's the most likely to find Christian Pulisic's run between the centerbacks. He's the player best-equipped to cross a ball onto the head of a driving Weston McKennie or to sneak a pass between defenders for Folarin Balogun to run onto.

  That's all well and good, but one question remains: how do you get him on the field?

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Rebuilding the midfield

  The "MMA" midfield of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams is really good. You saw it at the World Cup. That trio went toe-to-toe with England and looked the better group – there aren't many midfields in the world that can do that.

  Breaking that group up will be hard, but it may be necessary to get Reyna onto the field.

  Adams' fitness makes that decision a bit easier. The Bournemouth star played even less than Reyna this season as injuries ruined his first campaign with his new club. He's not yet 90-minutes fit, but does seem like one heck of a supersub to close out a game, particularly in the first two group stage matches against Bolivia and Panama.

  With that in mind, it's still not a sure thing. Johnny Cardoso has been incredible this season, showing the ability to step into that Adams role after breaking out in La Liga. He's not Adams, at least not yet, but Cardoso is one heck of a player.

  Going with Reyna, though, seems to be the answer.

Leeds United fans are beginning to get restless with their club's lack of transfer activity through the door, Daniel Farke not rushing into signing any players even as the immense pressure of deadline day begins to ramp up.

It's not as if there's been a shortage of names lined up to relocate to West Yorkshire and improve the Championship titans this transfer window – with Daiki Hashioka and Ryan Giles both notably joining other teams after being linked heavily – but Farke and Co remain composed despite no new faces arriving.

Even with the German boss remaining coy about what deadline day will look like when talking to the media on Wednesday, Leeds should push on and sign this centre-back to bolster the Whites back four that will continue to be without Pascal Struijk for the trip to Bristol City on Friday night.

Leeds' centre-back search goes on

Strengthening the defence has been an obvious priority in this quiet window so far, with Leeds rumoured to be interested in the likes of Nat Phillips, Chris Mepham and plenty more to add depth to the centre-back areas.

The promotion-chasing Whites won't give up on a deal to sign another target in Ben Godfrey just yet however, even with their long-term defensive target surprisingly starting for Everton last night in the Premier League after being previously frozen out by Sean Dyche at Goodison Park.

With two loan bids turned down by the Toffees already from Leeds, according to Football Insider, the west Yorkshire outfit could well fire back with one more attempt to sign Godfrey as cracks of desperation begin to set in for Farke's men the closer the clock ticks down to the shutting of the window.

Leeds submit late bid to sign their next Luke Ayling

Leeds United could well find their next Luke Ayling by signing this tremendous talent.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 29, 2024

How Godfrey would fit into the Leeds team

If Leeds are finally successful in landing the services of the 26-year-old defender, it could well signal the end of Charlie Cresswell at Elland Road who would be bumped even further down the pecking order for Godfrey to shine in his new surroundings.

Indeed, the former Canary could well come straight into the Whites XI on his arrival to the second-tier side, with Farke having to use Liam Cooper last time out in the FA Cup versus Plymouth Argyle.

With no timescale given as to when Struijk could return from an injury knock, Godfrey would fill in for their star Dutchman's absence ahead of reserve figure Cresswell if signed.

Helping Norwich City win promotion last time he was playing at the level under Farke's guidance, the current Toffees defender could well be hungry to succeed again at the level on a short-term basis with Leeds to rejuvenate his career and add another promotion to his CV.

The 26-year-old showed signs of his obvious class playing for Everton on Tuesday night that would help boost Leeds' depleted back four in the division below, winning six duels and completing four tackles to play his part in Dyche's men keeping a clean sheet at Craven Cottage in the 0-0 stalemate.

This standout display saw Godfrey play at right-back also, Leeds gaining an adaptable defender in the 26-year-old for the rest of the season if a deal can be reached.

At his peak playing for the Merseyside club, football journalist James Whaling even referred to the ex-Norwich City defender as a "monster" for his gritty approach to launching into duels and battles without hesitation.

On the contrary, it would be a major risk gifting an inexperienced defender like Cresswell more game-time now when clashes become ever more tense and crucial towards the back end of the campaign.

In the here and now, Farke needs the strongest squad he possibly can have at his disposal – and although Cresswell was "excellent" – as per Gary Rowett – in a formative loan switch to Millwall last season – it's a no-brainer to try and get the £75k per week Everton defender in ahead of the Whites youngster in a bid to make Leeds automatic promotion material.

A defensive revamp is seemingly in the offing at Manchester United. After the club elected not to exercise their option to extend his deal by a further year, Raphael Varane is out of contract in the summer, and the same can be said for Jonny Evans. Meanwhile, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are both for sale if United receive a reasonable offer.

As such, we expect to see multiple incomings this year, with Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt already emerging as a prime target. De Ligt, who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has grown frustrated with his situation at Bayern, and Bayern bosses will likely let him leave for a suitable fee. United are watching developments "closely" from afar.

Another potential target is Juventus' Gleison Bremer, with reports in Italy this week revealing naming him as a target. United have apparently taken "concrete steps" to establish whether he'd be open to joining, and he's said to be receptive to the idea.

United lining up meeting with Juventus over Bremer

Now, according to Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Manchester United are planning to hold a meeting with Juventus to discuss a possible deal for Bremer. The Bianconeri have apparently made it clear at the outset that they won't be willing to do business for less than £60m.

Ten Hag has set out a clear checklist for major defensive signings and Bremer is seen as the "ideal" fit, so we now wait to see whether the upcoming discussions between the two clubs prove to be productive.

"Wrecking ball" Bremer has what it takes for Man Utd

Ironically, Juventus' £35m deal for Bremer in 2022 was actually a response to De Ligt's move to Bayern Munich, and the Old Lady have clearly been pleased by what they've seen so far. The Brazilian has made 66 appearances overall, and boasts a 100% starting record in Serie A this season.

Latest Man Utd transfer news: De Jong back on radar; 21y/o hands in request

Here are all the latest Man Utd transfer rumours from Old Trafford as we enter the final weeks of the window.

By
Henry Jackson

Aug 12, 2024

Football Daily's Dougie Critchley summed up his playing style when he described him as a "one-man wrecking ball", and the stats prove it. Fourth in Serie A this season for successful aerial duels (62), and fifth for fouls committed (34), it's clear that he's an aggressive player who doesn't hesitate to impose his physical power on opponents.

Bremer is one of the most highly-regarded centre-backs in Italian football, having been named Serie A's Best Defender in 2021/22 and made the team of the year last season too (below).

It's hard to argue with a £60m price tag for the 26-year-old, who remains under contract for another four-and-a-half-years. Whether he arrives alongside or instead of De Ligt, he'd be an excellent addition for the Red Devils as they look to return to the Premier League title picture.

Michele Kang's London City Lionesses have stunned the Championship by signing Sweden icon Kosovare Asllani and appointing PSG boss Jocelyn Precheur.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Second-tier London City Lionesses make splash
• Sweden star Asllani & PSG boss Precheur brought in
• Same ownership as Washington Spirit & Lyon

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kang, also the majority owner of NWSL side Washington Spirit and European giants Lyon, bought the English second-tier side in December and has shown her commitment to getting the Lionesses into the top-flight with a huge flurry of announcements ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The club from the capital have persuaded Precheur to leave French giants PSG to manage in the Championship, off the back of him helping the French giants win just a fifth major honour in the form of the Coupe de France, and added one of the best talents of her generation, in Asllani, to the squad. The Sweden star has 187 caps for her country and has previously represented PSG, Manchester City and Real Madrid, before joining London City from AC Milan.

• WHAT PRECHEUR & ASLLANI SAID

  "Since I met Michele last season, I have admired her vision and dedication to the women’s game," Precheur said. "The high-performance culture of winning she is building across her teams was a key part in my decision to join London City. I can’t wait to get started next week and meet the players and team staff."

  "I am delighted to be back in England for the second time, now as a London City Lionesses player,” Asllani added. "I can’t wait to put on the No.9 shirt and get to know the team."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Those two arrivals were not the only bits of big news. Kang also revealed that London City has purchased its current training facilities and signed a long-term tenancy agreement with Bromley FC, recently promoted into the men's English Football League, to play their home fixtures at its Hayes Lane ground. "Today marks a new era at London City Lionesses,” Kang said.

Led by the same majority owner as NWSL side Washington Spirit and eight-time European champions Lyon, the Championship club are having a big summer

Kosovare Asllani is one of the most talented players of her generation. She has lifted the Women’s Super League title with Manchester City, represented Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and AC Milan, racked up 187 caps for Sweden and played in four major tournament semi-finals. So when a second division team set about trying to persuade her to make a shock transfer this summer, it’s no surprise to hear that she wasn’t quite sure.

Even when she was unveiled last week as the marquee signing for London City Lionesses, who play in the Women’s Championship in England, the iconic playmaker admitted that she was still “a little bit terrified” about a move she described as a “risk”. However, sitting alongside new head coach Jocelyn Precheur, who himself was lured across the channel from French giants Paris Saint-Germain, she was simultaneously keen to emphasise how “excited” she was about joining an ambitious project led by Michele Kang, who is also the majority owner of the Washington Spirit in the NWSL and eight-time European champions Lyon.

“I've been waiting for someone like Michele to come along, honestly,” Asllani said. “The reason I'm here is because of Michele. We've been waiting to get these investments into women's football and having the opportunity to work with, for me, the most powerful woman in the business at the moment is what intrigued me.”

While sat alongside two additions that probably no other team in the division could have made, and discussing news that London City had also acquired its training facilities and struck an agreement with new men’s League Two side Bromley to play home games at its Hayes Lane ground, Kang acknowledged: "Just because you spend more money doesn't mean you're going to win the Championship. I'm very cognisant of that.”

Yet, the mission is clear. London City Lionesses want to do exactly that, secure promotion to the WSL and, then, become champions of England. To achieve any of that will take a lot – and it needs the big ambition which Kang is showing.

• USA TODAY Sports
  

  Different challenge

  It’s easy to see why Kang is a revered figure for many in the women’s game. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she is a “doer” in Asllani’s words. She quite literally puts her money where her mouth is and invests and supports the teams she owns.

  There are some that are opposed to her multi-club ownership model, but Kang made it clear in just her second press conference that, across the three teams she owns a majority stake in, “the goal is to make every team the champion in each of the leagues that they play” rather than “to make one team successful, like some of the common models that you see on the men's side”.

  To get London City to the level she envisages is going to be her toughest challenge yet, though. Lyon was already established as the biggest team in Europe before her investment, and while the Spirit didn’t win a first NWSL Championship until after Kang got involved, the club has been in the U.S. top flight since its establishment in 2013. That’s not to say that Kang hasn’t done things to help both improve, but to illustrate the difference in trying to help an English second division side achieve such lofty ambitions.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Stumbling blocks

  Kang has experienced the obstacles such a challenge presents already, too. “Over the past six months, we approached a lot of top coaches, a lot of top players, and a lot of them told us, 'Call me when you get promoted',” she explained. “A lot of people were very nervous about joining a Championship team.”

  After all, there are implications. Asllani, whom Kang is extremely “grateful” for because of her decision to take a “risk”, will want to go to the European Championship next summer with Sweden, and dropping down to the second division could impact that. Given her experience and quality, and how proven she is, it’s possible she will still get the nod, but other players aren’t in that situation. Even though Asllani is, it remains a gamble.

• Getty
  

  Persuasive figure

  And that is where Kang’s character comes into it all. “I went with the gut and the feeling I get from Michele with her vision for women's sport,” Asllani explained. “She is someone that believes in a project, that is investing, that is a doer. That is how I feel, and the impression I got from Michele from our first meeting. I remember leaving the room feeling like, 'I want to work with her'.”

  Precheur gave similar comments. “Since I met Michele last season, I have admired her vision, her dedication for the women's game,” he added. “She is very ambitious. This is a big project. Very quickly, I decided to join Michele because I really, really wanted to support her to be part of this project.”

  It’s clear that her ambition resonates and that she is able to convey her vision in a way that persuades people to get onboard. Lyon star Ada Hegerberg told GOAL that Kang was a big reason in her decision to renew with the eight-time European champions earlier this year. Now, she’s playing a huge role in drawing elite players and coaches to the English second-tier.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  On and off the pitch

  It's not just on the pitch that she’s making big things happen, either. Recognising the need for a top-class training environment if London City are to hit the heights desired, Kang has purchased the 23-acre training facility that the club was renting.

  “We engaged the architects who designed the Tottenham training centre,” Kang explained. “I did my research, and in my opinion, they have actually the best football training centre. We engaged with them and they have been working with us to design the state of the art training centre for women's football teams. They will be designing basically the same concept for London City, for the Spirit and for Lyon.”

  That’s on top of the decision to relocate from Princes Park, the stadium used by seventh-tier men's team Dartford FC, to Hayes Lane, the ground of newly-promoted League Two outfit Bromley. It moves the club from Kent to Greater London, which Kang believes is “important”, but most significantly gives them “a professional grade stadium” to play in.

Almost ten years ago, a young Dutch forward – and future Manchester United man – announced himself on the world’s biggest stage.

It was in Group B of the 2014 Brazilian World Cup that Memphis Depay starred as a 20-year-old, scoring and assisting against Australia to overturn his nation's one-goal deficit.

From that point, the attacker didn’t look back, and during his final season at PSV Eindhoven, he scored 28 goals and registered eight assists in 40 matches.

These elite numbers are what made United secure Depay’s signature for £25m in 2015, where he reunited with former Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal. At the time, he was an “outrageous” talent, as per Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

Depay’s record at Man United

Depay’s arrival at Man United made him one of the most talked-about prospects in world football, with all eyes eagerly watching him to see how he would light up the Premier League.

The pressure for him to succeed at such a young age was already on before he kicked a ball, and on his second start at Old Trafford in the Champions League tie against Club Brugge, Depay netted twice and assisted in a 3-1 victory.

On the back of that performance, Netherlands and Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben said:

“He can become one of the top players in the world at Manchester United. He is already at such a high level, but playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world he will only get even better.”

However, Depay never reached the heights he once promised and struggled to adapt to the Premier League, netting just twice in 29 appearances during his debut campaign, with a young Marcus Rashford ultimately eclipsing him that season as the new poster boy at the Theatre of Dreams.

The former PSV ace ultimately played 53 games for the Red Devils, with a meagre record of seven goals and six assists across all competitions.

Depay’s career after Man United

Olympique Lyon handed Depay a route out of United at the start of 2017, when he made the permanent move to France for £21m.

During this spell, Depay rediscovered his form and cemented himself as one of the most reliable goalscorers and creators in Europe, with an extremely impressive record of 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 matches.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Over the years, the 5 foot 10 attacker developed into a centre forward, moving away from the left-wing role he had become accustomed to as a youngster.

When Depay’s contract expired at Lyon in 2021, the Netherlands whizz decided to take on a new challenge, with a move to Barcelona shortly following that decision. His time with the Catalan giants was hindered by injuries, which saw him miss 30 games.

As you can see by the table above, the 30-year-old still had a respectable output at Barca, but he moved to Atletico Madrid around this time last year, where he is still playing, having enjoyed a fruitful season with Diego Simeone's men.

In fact, the mercurial talent is even outscoring his former teammate, Rashford, having bagged seven goals in all competitions in 2023/24 for the La Liga side, with the Englishman, by contrast, having scored just five goals under Erik ten Hag's watch.

Moving from Manchester to Lyon was the best decision Depay made during his career, which turned out to be successful despite not reaching the potential he showed in his early years.

That said, his goals and assists could have certainly been used at United since his departure, and you have to think of what he could have gone on to become at the Red Devils if he never left in 2017.

After spending her summer break taking in the sun and sights of America, it is now a case of “work, work, work” and no play for Alisha Lehmann.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Swiss star followed boyfriend to America
• Passed through Florida and California
• Focus now on Euro 2025 qualification duty

• Instagram
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Switzerland international has linked up with her country ahead of more Euro 2025 qualification action. She should be fully charged after spending several weeks following boyfriend Douglas Luiz around the United States – with the Brazilian midfielder on Copa America duty.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lehmann passed through Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco during her U.S. adventure, soaking up the sun and seeing the sights as she went. It is now a case of back to business for the 25-year-old forward.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  She has completed a transfer from Aston Villa to Juventus, alongside partner Luiz, and is looking forward to a fresh start in Italy. For now, though, Lehmann’s focus is locked on putting in the “work” that will return her to full match sharpness as quickly as possible.

  Instagram

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT?

  Switzerland, who are already guaranteed a place at next summer's European Championship as hosts of that event, will return to competitive action on Friday when taking in a trip to Turkey. They will be back on home soil for a meeting with Azerbaijan on July 16.

Southampton's rocky form in the Championship continued at home to Millwall this weekend just gone, the Saints losing 2-1 to the Lions who find themselves precariously just above the second tier relegation spots.

It's been a noticeable drop-off for Russell Martin's men who at one point looked dead set on an immediate return to the Premier League via the automatic promotion route, with Leeds United now occupying second place with a five-point advantage when fast-forwarding to the present.

Southampton do have a number of young talents on their side who can make a difference however to cut through the current doom and gloom, with former Manchester City winger Samuel Edozie impressing the St. Mary's masses in the 2-1 defeat at 21 years old when replacing an injury-stricken Ryan Fraser.

There's another starlet on the South Coast who could go on to be the most impressive one of them all, the attacking midfielder in question striving to be Southampton's next Adam Lallana if given a chance to succeed at senior level.

Ussumane Djalo's statistics at youth level

Once touted for a mega £8m away from FC Porto, with the likes of Manchester United and Everton sniffing about in the January transfer window, Southampton managed to acquire Ussumane Djalo's services at the start of this month on a youth loan surprisingly.

Able to play in a traditional central midfield role, on top of playing further forward in a position more accustomed to that of Lallana in his Saints prime in attacking midfield, Djalo shone at youth level in Portugal before relocating to the South Coast on loan.

The skilful creator would bag two goals and pick up a further two assists from 11 Porto Youth League appearances, helping himself to one of those assists against FC Barcelona U19s in the UEFA Youth League last year as Porto romped home to a 4-0 victory.

Onto six appearances for the Portugal U19s now as well, it could well be time for Djalo to cut his teeth at a senior level for Southampton soon.

The Portuguese starlet has only managed to make one appearance in the youth fold at the Saints since joining this month, but with a predicted bright future in the game, he could well go on to be a hero akin to Lallana if given time to shine.

Only at the club on loan – with a view to making the deal permanent – he could well be the long-term option in the centre of the park when Flynn Downes returns back to West Ham United come the end of the Championship campaign.

Djalo could be the next Lallana

Djalo is very much a midfielder with an eye to attack and shine going forward, as was Lallana when he dazzled at St. Mary's over various goal-filled seasons.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The current Brighton veteran would amass 60 goals for the Saints in total, exiting the south coast club as a legend with 265 appearances tallied up.

Lallana's humble beginnings in the Saints youth set-up didn't stop him from excelling when making the leap to the first team, making his debut at just 18 years of age.

It could well be viewed as an outlandish claim to say Djalo could ever reach Lallana's heights, but with Djalo bagging three goals at international level for Portugal to date and with his two goals for Porto's youth side next to his name, the 19-year-old could well eventually burst into life for the Saints to then nail down a starting spot.

If that was the case, Southampton could rest a little easier over the prospect of Downes upping and leaving to head back to the London Stadium as well – Djalo adept at also playing in the centre of the park, as opposed to just being an attack-minded player.

Martin could utilise plenty of his young Saints talents such as Edozie and Jayden Meghoma in this midweek's FA Cup clash at Liverpool, with Djalo itching to be in the 38-year-old boss' plans soon if he does stay put beyond the end of this season.